Elevating or lowering device for harvester-platforms.



Patented July 3, 1900.

J. n. v. McWILLEIAMS. ELEVATING 0R LOWEBING DEVICE FOR HABVESTERPLATFORMS.

(Application filed gab. 28, 1909.)

3 Sheets-Shet I.

(No Model.)

W/T/VESJES.

UNITED STATES PATENT. Quince.

JAMES DUDLEY VANHOOK MOWILLIAMS, OF ALERT, OKLAHOMA TERRI- TORY.

ELEVATING 0R LOWERING DEVICEFOR HARVESTER-PLATFORMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,804, dated. July 3,1900. Application filed February 23,1900. Serial No. 6 ,240. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES DUDLEY VAN- HOOK MOWILLIAMS, a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of Alert, in the countyv of Kay andTerritory of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Elevating or Lowering Devices for Harvester-Platforms, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in harvesters, especially of thetype known as headers and binders, and aims to provide new and improvedmeans for elevating and lowering the platform carried by such machines,the particular object of my device being to so adjust the platform thatwhether in elevated or lowered position it shall preserve the samedegree of inclination with reference to the grain to be cut. It is foundin practice that when the crop is standing up properly in normalposition the best results are obtained by keeping the platform alwayslevel whether it is in elevated or lowered position. When the grainistangled or fallen down, so as to need lifting,the platform should betilted forward and downward, and when cutting Kafir-corn or sorghum theinclination should be forward and upward to make the out of the sickleeasier. The machines in common use provide for the elevation andlowering of the platform; but such movements are accompanied by andinvolve a change in the inclination of the platform, which is notdesirable. With my improvements the adjustment of the device having oncebeen made with reference to the character of the work to be done theinclination of the platform remains constant whether in high or lowposition.

In the following description the side of the machine which is on theright or left as seen from the drivers stand at the rear of the machinewill, beconsidered the right or left hand side for the purposes of thedescription.

In'the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective side view of a harvester withthe main drivewheel-removed, showing the parts involved in my invention.Fig. 2 is aside elevation of a portion of my device looking across themachine from the left-hand side, showing the system of levers, links,&c., involved in my invention located on the right-hand side ofthe'machine, the intervening corresponding parts which are on theleft-hand side, also the left-hand Wheel, being removed for greaterclearness, certain parts being shown in section and the adjustableplatform in end elevation and in lowered position. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of a portion of my device looking across themachine from theleft-hand side, showing the system of levers, &c., involved in myinvention located on the lefthand side of'the machine, the correspondingparts which are upon the right-hand side, also the left-hand wheel,being omitted for greater clearness, certain parts being shown insection and the adjustable platform in end elevation andin raisedposition. Fig. 4 is a top plan view. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of asystem of braces connecting the tongue and axle with parts hereindescribed.

1 designates the main axle, upon which the machine is carried; 2 and 3,the drive-wheels 4-, the rearwardly-extending tongue, 5, the driversstand; 6, the tiller-wheel; 7, thelever and catch for operating the mainpull-rod 8, which actuates the mechanism for elevating and lowering theplatform 9, and 10 the notched segment for engaging said catch. Upon thetongue 4 is fixed a saddle 11, from which extend. braces 12 13 to theaxle upon each side, where they are secured to clips 14 15, mounted onthe axle. Abrace 16 extends from the saddle 11 and engages adownwardprojecting arm 17, Fig. 5, which depends from a tongue hound 17,connecting the tongue 4 with the axle 1.

The platform 9 is of the ordinary character, carrying the sickle at itsfrontedge and provid'ed with the usual canvas and other ens-- tomaryappendages. (Not shown.)

18 designates the backboard of; the plat- "22,- also pivoted at itsupper end to a block 23, to which the main pull-rod Sis connected at 24.To the forward end of said block are pivotally connected at right andleft pullrods 26 27, the former extending to a pivotal connection at 28with a brace-link 29 and a cross-link 30 above the axle 011 the rightside of the machine and the latter to a similar connection at 31 with abrace-link 32 and crosslink 33 on the left side of the machine. Saidbrace-links are pivoted at their lower ends at 34 and 35, respectively,to the upper ends of flat brackets 36 37, which are secured to the clips14 15, mounted on the axle l. Said brackets 36 37 have downwardextensions depending below the axle which are braced to the saddle 11 bybraces 36 37 and to the tongue-hound 17 by braces 36 37 To the upperends of each of said brackets 36 37 in one adjustment of the elevatingdevice on the common pivots 34 with said bracelinks 29 32 are pivotedplatform-links 38 39, which last-mentioned links are pivoted at theirouter ends at 40 41, respectively, to the upper ends of the verticalportions of the platform-brackets 20 21. Said links 38 39 are duplicatedon each side of said brackets 20 21 and 36 37, as shown in Figs. 1 and4. Platform-levers 42 43 are also pivoted to said brackets 36 37 atpoints 44 45 below the axle 1, and the outer ends of said levers arepivoted to the platform-brackets 2O 21 at points 46 47 below the pivots40 41. Said platformlevers 42 43 are substantially parallel with theplatform-links 38 39 and are also duplicated on each side of thebrackets 20 21 and brackets 36 37. The cross-links 3O 33 upon each sideof the machine extend from the pivots 28 31 downwardly, passing betweenthe doubled platform-links 38 39 and the denbled platlorm-levers 42 43,to the latter of which they are pivoted at 48 and 49, respectively.

It is obvious from the connection of the parts described that tensionupon the main pull-rod 8 will elevate the platform 9 from the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 or any intermediatepoint; also, that links 38 39 and levers 42 43 being parallel,respectively, to each other and the pivots connecting them at one endwith the platform-brackets 2O 21 and at the other end with theaxle-brackets 36 37 being in the same vertical plane the platform willbe kept at the same inclination to the ground whether in high or lowposition. Provision is also made for varying the adjustment of thesystem of levers, links, &c., described, so that the platform may becarried at a higher or lower level, according to the character of thework to be done. To this end the depending brackets 36 37 and also thecross-links 30 33 are provided with a plurality of pivot-holes, so that,for example, the inner ends of levers 42 43 may be shifted topivot-holes 50 51 and the inner ends of links 38 39 shifted topivotholes 44 45. In such case the cross-links 3O 33 would also belowered and the pivotal conncction between pull-rods 26 27, brace-links29 32, and said cross-rods be made through pivot-holes 52 53 on saidcross-rods instead of at 28 31, as shown.

With the construction as thus far described the platform has beensupposed to and would remain in a substantially-horizontal plane whetherin high or low position. Provision is, however, made for changing theinclination of the platform in such a manner that it will retain suchinclination whether in high or low position until the adjustment ischanged. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of pivot-holes,preferably three, arranged in a horizontal line in brackets 36 37, bothabove and below the axle 1. In the drawings the connections of theplatform-links 38 39 and brace-links 29 32 are shown as made at 34 35.If, however, it is desired to tilt the platform upward, the connectionof links 38 39 and brace-links 29 32 may be transferred from pivots 3435 to 34 35. On the other hand, it it is desired to give the platform adownward inclination, the described pivotal connection may betransferred from 34 35 to pivot-holes in the brackets 36 37 to the leftof 34 (Indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, also by full lines inFig. 5.) A similar series of pivotholes,arranged horizontally,isprovided in each of the brackets 36 37 below the axle, two of which, 44and 45, are shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that when the links 38 39 areadjusted below the axle, as hereinbefore described, the same variationsin the inclination of the platform may be effected. I also provide novelmeans of bracing the rear elevator side 19 according to the degree ofelevation and inclination of the platform 9.

54 designates a right-angular plate having a front portion 55, mountedlongitudinally of the machine in boxing 56 on the axle outside the maindrive-wheel 2, and a rear portion 57, extending transversely in rear ofsaid wheel and secured to a clip 58 on the tongue. A vertical standard59 is secured to said plate by bolts 60 at points near the axle. Saidstandard is provided with a plurality of holes 61 at diiferent levelsand in dilferent vertical planes to receive bolts pivotally connectingsaid standard with a cross-brace 62, which is in turn pivotallyconnected to an ear or lug 63 on the rear elevator side 19. The elevatorbeing carried up and down with the platform it is necessary and possibleby changing the positions of said bolts to vary the adjustment of saidbrace to correspond with the adjustment of the platform whether in highor low position and at any degree of inclination. A brace 64, extendingfrom the standard 59 to plate 54, helps preserve the rigidity of theparts. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, braces 65 66 also extend from the arm17, depending from tongue-hound 17, to the platform-levers 42 43 toprevent lateral movementof the platform. Said braces have twoadjustments on the arm 17, corresponding to the high and low positionsof the platform.

The operation of the device has been substantially indicated in theforegoing description. When the driver in the course of the work wishesto change the degree of elevation of the platform according to thevarying nature of the ground passed over or other circumstances,heeffects his object by the proper manipulation of lever 7. These changesmay be made instantaneously. When, however, the character of the work tobe done requires that the platform shall be carried at a certain averageheight or at a particular inclination continuously during theperformance of such work, the proper pivotal connections of thecross-links, levers, brackets, &c., are made as herein described.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. In a harvester, a platform elevating and loweringdevice, comprising brackets on which the platform is carried, anadjustable operating-lever, right and left pull-rods connected with saidlever, vertically-disposed right and left brackets supported on theaxle, brace-links pivoted at their upper ends to said pull-rods and attheir lower ends to said axlebrackets, platformdevers, pivoted at theirinner ends to said axle-brackets and at their outer ends to saidplatform-brackets, crosslinks pivoted at their upper ends to saidbracelinks and at their lower ends to said platformlevers, andplatform-links, parallel with said platform-levers, and pivoted at theirinner ends to said axle-brackets and at their outer.

ends to said platform-brackets, substantially as set forth.

2. In a harvester provided with a grain-receiving platform, carried infront of the machine, and an elevator mounted at one end of saidplatform, the combination, with means of elevating and lowering saidplatform, of a substantially right-angular plate, having a frontportion, supported on the outer end of the axle adjacent to saidelevator, and a rear portion extending transversely of the machine andsecured on the tongue, a vertical standard secured to the front portionof said plate and extending above the axle, and a brace pivotallyconnected at its inner end to said standard, and at its outer end tosaid elevator, substantially as set forth.

3. In a harvester, a platform elevating and lowering device, comprisingbrackets on which the platform is carried, an adjustableoperating-lever, right and left pull-rods connected with said lever,vertically-disposed right and left brackets supported on the axle,brace-links pivoted at their upper ends to said pull-rods and at theirlower ends to said axle-brackets, platform-levers, pivoted at theirinner ends to said axle-brackets and at their outer ends to saidplatform-brackets, cross-links pivoted at their upper ends to saidbrace-links and at their lower ends to said platform-levers, andplatform-links, parallel with said platform-levers, and pivoted at theirinner ends to said axle-brackets and at their outer ends to saidplatform-brackets, said axle-brackets being provided with a plurality ofpivot-holes, in different horizontal planes, for varying the adjustmentof said platformlinks and platform-levers, to carry the platform atdifierent elevations, substantially as set forth.

4. In a harvester, a platform elevating and lowering device, comprisingbrackets on which the platform is carried, an adjustableoperating-lever, right and left pull-rods connected with said lever,vertically-disposed right and left brackets supported on the axle,brace-links pivoted at their upper ends to said pull-rods and at theirlower ends to said axlebrackets, platform-levers, pivoted at their innerends to said axle-brackets and at their outer ends to saidplatform-brackets, crosslinks pivoted at their upper ends to saidbracelinks and at their lower ends to said platform levers, andplatform-links, parallel with said platform-levers, and pivoted at theirinner ends to said axle-brackets and at their outer ends to saidplatform-brackets, said axlebrackets being provided with a plurality ofpivot-holes, in different vertical planes, for varying the adjustment ofsaid platformlinks, to carry the platform at different inclinations,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES DUDLEY VANHOOK llIcWILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

M. F. NELSON, W. W. LEMMON.

